Dm. Stoddart et al., PLASMA TESTOSTERONE CONCENTRATION, BODY-WEIGHT, SOCIAL-DOMINANCE AND SCENT-MARKING IN MALE MARSUPIAL SUGAR GLIDERS (PETAURUS BREVICEPS MARSUPIALIA, PETAURIDAE), Journal of zoology, 232, 1994, pp. 595-601
Observations were made of a wild population of sugar gliders (Petaurus
breviceps) by live-trapping and on four captive colonies to establish
the relationship between blood concentration of testosterone, body we
ight, social dominance and the timing of births. In both the wild and
in captivity one male exhibits a testosterone concentration far higher
than his fellows, during the breeding season. This male is also the h
eaviest. In captivity this male is observed to be socially the most do
minant and undertakes almost all of the scent-marking. At least three-
quarters of each breeding season's births occur during the first month
of the three- to four-month season (July-September/October), a passag
e of time during which the body weight of the most dominant male falls
more than that of the subordinates. It is suggested that this species
is highly polygynous, with the ecological and evolutionary benefits o
f high social status being immense.